Westminster celebrates a first and a former

Dec. 13, 2012

Updated Aug. 21, 2013 1:17 p.m.

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Former Westminster Mayor Margie Rice swears in Tri Ta as the city's new mayor during a City Council meeting Wednesday night. He is the first Vietnamese American mayor in Westminster, home to the largest Little Saigon in the nation. THANH PHONG, SAIGON NHO DAILY NEWS

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Westminster Mayor Tri Ta swears in the outgoing mayor, Margie Rice, to her new post on the City Council. The council Wednesday night appointed Rice to a seat left vacant by Ta's election as mayor. THANH PHONG, SAIGON NHO DAILY NEWS

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Margie Rice swears in Sergio Contreras as councilman during Wednesday night's meeting as Contreras' family looks on. Standing next to him is his wife, Adriana Contreras, holding their 2 1/2 year-old daughter, Chloe, and on his other side is his father, Sergio Contreras, Sr. THANH PHONG, SAIGON NHO DAILY NEWS

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Diana Carey is sworn in as the new Westminster council woman by her daughter, Tricia Carey-Dalton, while state Sen. Lou Correa and outgoing Mayor Margie Rice look on. Carey's granddaughter Paige, 4, is clinging to her mother. Carey asked Correa, Rice and Seal Beach Mayor Gary Miller to be by her side as she's sworn in. "I wanted to honor them for all the help they've given me," Carey said afterward. THANH PHONG, SAIGON NHO DAILY NEWS

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From left to right, Westminster council members Andy Quach, Diana Carey and Sergio Contreras join Mayor Tri Ta as they honor outgoing Mayor Margie Rice. Shortly afterward, they unanimously appointed Rice to a vacant City Council seat. THANH PHONG, SAIGON NHO DAILY NEWS

Former Westminster Mayor Margie Rice swears in Tri Ta as the city's new mayor during a City Council meeting Wednesday night. He is the first Vietnamese American mayor in Westminster, home to the largest Little Saigon in the nation.THANH PHONG, SAIGON NHO DAILY NEWS

WESTMINSTER – With his right hand raised, Tri Ta had just finished the official swearing in that made him mayor when outgoing Mayor Margie Rice smiled broadly and said: "And you made history."

Ta, 39, is being celebrated as the first elected Vietnamese American mayor in Westminster, home to the nation's largest Little Saigon. Vietnamese American leaders also say he is the first elected, as opposed to appointed, mayor in the country.

Also sworn in were new council members Sergio Contreras and Diana Carey.

That left one open seat. And the council appointed Rice, the outgoing six-time mayor, to the seat left vacant by Councilman Ta's election to mayor.

"I truly believe she is the best qualified and has the best experience," Ta said.

Rice said she was honored. "I will be a good council member and back you up, mayor," she told Ta.

Rice, 83, had planned to retire but said her experience is needed in the city, which is facing financial uncertainty and earlier this year laid off 67 employees.

Prior to the appointment, about a half-dozen residents encouraged the council to appoint Penny Loomer, a former recreation-department leader who retired as Westminster assistant city manager after four decades with the city.

In the past week, the city also received about 300 signatures asking the council to forego a special election and appoint Loomer.

"I'm not interested in politics. But I'm really interested in the well-being of my community," said Loomer, who ran for mayor and came in second, with nearly 30 percent of the votes. Loomer also has run in previous elections and was edged out by a few votes in 2008 and 2010. She is active in numerous organizations and boards.

Tyler Diep, who lost his bid for re-election to the council in November, also wanted to be appointed to the seat.

But most insiders said that if Rice wanted the seat, it was hers. She endorsed all three of the winning candidates – Ta, Carey and Contreras – and all three spoke of her experience and leadership in the city.

Even the new mayor's mother thanked Rice.

Huyen Do said during the meeting that she went to Rice six years ago and asked her to "take care of my son. Help him. Support him. You kept your promise."

"Please continue to support him, continue to help him carry out his duties," Ta's mother said tearfully. "Please help him make Westminster one of the most famous cities in the country."

Ta, who moved to the United States at 19, is a managing editor of a trade journal for salon professionals. He has co-written three books with his wife – two of poetry and one of short stories. He was first elected in 2006 and re-elected in 2010.

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